Any news, Heather?

[Sonia]

Hi Heather
I just wondered whether you heard how the horses did that saw Mike Peace on the first seminar? They were the rearer and the youngster who was afraid of the saddle.

Sonia

[Heather]

HI Sonia,

Follow Mossy's posts for news of Connie, the mare who was frightened of the saddle, 'Mossy' being Jill, who is her owner! Floss, the other mare, is still giving a few problems. Our Mike (Aylmore, not Peace) is still helping with her, but she has had to have some physio for the original shoulder problem, and Mike feels that this is still the root of the trouble. Will keep you posted.


Heather

[Mossy]

Thanks for your interest, Sonia. Connie is coming along slowly but steadily. As Mike said these things take time but we are getting there. She is accepting a normal saddle, and will weather permitting have her own saddle on Monday. Weather permitting may sound silly but, apart from her saddle hangups, she does not like being in an enclosed space. [Her loose box is anathema to her unless she can see or hear a human being and she lives out 100%] She was showing this at the demo if you remember, but it did not occur to me prior to the event that she would see a large school as an enclosed space! I have done all her remedial work in a small outdoor fenced loosebox area. Not ideal in a classical sense, but ideal for her. I had to read her body language right as any mistakes on my part and she would have been straight over the fence! Yes she can jump!
I have been on her back, bareback, and we have started again longreining with a lunging roller. The break from training has exacerbated a confidence problem when out of the field but time and patience will hopefully put that right. She is getting more confident by the day.

[Sonia]

I'm glad to hear that you're making progress - I think that if you have problems, as long as you don't run out of sensible potential solutions to try - then at least you can think positive!
Keep us up to date
Sonia